Pneumatic suspension system for automotive vehicles



Nov. 10, 1964 R. s. LEONARD PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVEVEHICLES Filed May 22, 1964 m mm 3 W5 M w p United States Patent "cc3,156,458 PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Robert S.Leonard, 601 Belden Ave., Chicago, Ill. Substituted for abandonedapplication Ser. No. 251,221, Jan. 14, 1963. This application May 22,1964, Ser. No. 371,871

4 Claims. (Cl. 267-65) This invention relates to automotive vehicles,and more particularly to a suspension system for use on automotivevehicles and the like.

Although many useful improvements have been made on nearly everycomponent of automotive vehicles, no improvement is as much needed asone to replace the usual springs of a car. The reason for this need ofan improved suspension system is not only for reasons of comfort, butthe even more important reason of safety, for not only the occupants ofthe vehicle, but safety to everyone within sight of the machine whichcan at any moment become an instrument of death for all concerned, aswell as for innocent bystanders and the like.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a suspensionsystem for automotive vehicles and the like that operates on pneumaticsor hydraulics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic suspensionsystem for automotive vehicles that has its buoyancy controlled by theterrain over which it, the vehicle, is riding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic suspensionsystem for automotive vehicles that eliminates the use of springs in anyform whatsoever. Springs are nearly always the Weak link in anymechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic suspensionsystem for automotive vehicles that stops front end dive and rear endsag as well as side sway on curves, all of which not only increase thewear on certain parts of the vehicle, but provides an uncomfortable rideas well.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pneumaticsuspension system for automotive vehicles that can also be adapted tooperate on a combination of pneumatics and hydraulics if so desired.

From the preceding, it is seen that the invention has as its objects,among others, the provision of a pneumatic suspension system forautomotive vehicles of the character described which is of simple andeconomical construction and which can be employed to meet therequirements indi cated above. Other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of this invention taken along line 22 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of this invention installed on an automotivevehicle.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generallyindicated by the character 5 a plate that is fastened to the undersideof an automotive vehicle. The plate is integral with the top saddle 6that has one edge 7 encompassing a shackle bolt 8 while a like saddle 9is integral with the bottom plate 10 that is bolted to the fitting 11which encompasses the axle 12 of an automotive vehicle. The saddle 9 hasone edge 13 encompassing the shackle bolt 14 that is located on theopposite side of this invention and below the previously mentionedshackle bolt 8, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2 of the appended drawing.The aforesaid edges 7 and 13 of the saddles 6 and 9 are U-shaped whenviewed from the front Patented Nov. 10, 1964 in order to provide arecess for the reception of the ends of the shackle bar 15, in which iscentrally located and swingably mounted a fulcrum pin 16 which has eachend terminating in what I personally call the hub 17, which has a sideconfiguration of an annular body, which when viewed in section as inFIGURE 2 of the appended drawing, has its external periphery 18contoured around an elastic member in shape of a torus 19 that is nestedbetween the top saddle 6 and the bottom saddle 9.

Looking now at FIGURE 3 of the appended drawing, it will be seen thatthis novel invention of mine is so mounted on the vehicle that thebumper (front or rear) 20 is mounted on one end of a horizontallydisposed rod 21 that is slidably mounted in a housing 22 that is securedto the frame 23 of the vehicle. The horizontally disposed rod 21 isprovided with a stop 24 that has one surface concaved to the externalsurface of the aforesaid elastic member 19, thereby providing a means ofresiliency to the bumper 20 of the vehicle should the same ever bestruck by, or run into, a resisting object.

I have now described my invention of a pneumatic suspension system forautomotive vehicles in its basic form, with the exception of statingthat a check gage 25 may be connected to the elastic member 19 (by apipe 26) which is inflated with either air or hydraulic fluid, accordingto the requirements of the vehicles manufacture. The check gage 25 isprovided with a check valve 27 for reasons of safety, while the elasticmember receives its fluid, air or hydraulic, through an intake pipe 28.The check gage 25 is now shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the appendeddrawing since it may be located in any desired place on the vehicle.

As a vehicle having this invention mounted thereon moves over any roughsurface, such as a roadway, the top saddle 9 will push down on theshackle bar 15 across the fulcrum pin 16, thereby forcing the bottomsaddle 9 upward, causing the hub 17 to rise up and come down on acushion of compressed air or other fluid in the elastic member 19, whichI call a pneumatic buoy, which is located between the top saddle 6 andbottom saddle 9, which I have previously described in detail, thusreducing shock and vibration. In case of a collision from the front orrear, the bumper stop 24 will be forced against a cushion of compressedair or hydraulic fluid in the elastic member 19, thereby reducing theimpact.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it will be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

In accordance with the provisions of the United States patent statutes,as stated in the United States Code Title 35, patents, I have nowdescribed the principle of construction and operation of my invention ofa pneumatic suspension system for automotive vehicles in the form whichI personally consider the best embodiment thereof, and what I now claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An invention of the character described, comprising a fluid filledelastic member in shape of a torus resting upon a saddle, having a fiatplate secured to an axle on an automotive vehicle and a second saddlediametrically opposite the first mentioned saddle, the second saddle,having a flat plate secured to the underside of the frame of the saidautomotive vehicle and structure connecting the two saddles, by means ofa shackle bar, to a hub located within the confines of the said elasticmember, thereby providing a pneumatic suspension system for automotivevehicles.

2. An invention of the character described, comprising a fluid filledelastic member in shape of a torus resting upon a saddle, having a flatplate secured to an axle on an automotive vehicle and a second saddlediametrically opposite the first mentioned saddle, the second saddle,having a fiat plate secured to the underside of the frame of the saidautomotive vehicle and structure connecting the two saddles, by means ofa shackle bar, to a hub having a side configuration of an annular body,the said hub being located within the confines of the said elasticmember, thereby providing a pneumatic suspension system for automotivevehicles.

3. An invention of the character described, comprising a fluid filledelastic member in shape of a torus resting upon a saddle, having a flatplate secured to an axle on an automotive vehicle and a second saddlediametrically opposite the first mentioned saddle, the second saddle,having a flat plate secured to the underside of the frame of the saidautomotive vehicle and structure connecting the two saddles, by means ofa shackle bar, to a hub having a side configuration of an annular body,the said hub being located within the confines of the said elasticmember, and piping connecting the said elastic member with the fluidsystem of the said automotive vehicle, thereby providing means ofkeeping the said elastic member infiated to a predetermined pressure,thereby providing a pneumatic suspension system for automotive vehicles.

4. An invention of the character described, comprising an elastic memberin shape of a torus inflated with a fluid from the fluid system of anautomotive vehicle to a predetermined pressure, and a saddle having afiat plate integral therewith, the said saddle encompassing in part thesaid elastic member upon which it rests and a second saddle also havinga fiat plate integral therewith, and the second said saddle alsoencompassing in part the said elastic member, the two saddles beingvertically diametrically opposite one another, and a hub in the form ofan annular body inserted centrally within the confine of the saidelastic ring and a rectangular shackle bar swingably mounted on acentrally located fulcrum pin having each end secured centrally to thesaid hub while one outer end of the said rectangular shackle bar issecured by a shackle bolt, a downwardly extending edge of the firstmentioned saddle and the other end of the same shackle bar is secured bya shackle bolt to the upwardly extending edge of the second mentionedsaddle, the saddles being mounted between the underside of the frame ofan automotive vehicle and the axle of the same vehicle by resting uponthe plate of each saddle and a check gage and valve connected to thesaid elastic member thereby providing means of control of the fluidpressure within the said elastic member that provides a pneumaticsuspension system for the said automotive vehicle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,341,407 5/20Armory 267- 2,790,634 4/57 Fanwick 267-65 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,218 8/08Norway.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

2. AN INVENTION OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING A FLUID FILLEDELASTIC MEMBER IN SHAPE OF A TORUS RESTING UPON A SADDLE, HAVING A FLATPLATE SECURED TO AN AXLE ON AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND A SECOND SADDLEDIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE THE FIRST MENTIONED SADDLE, THE SECOND SADDLE,HAVING A FLAT PLATE SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRAME OF THE SAIDAUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND STRUCTURE CONNECTING THE TWO SADDLES, BY MEANS OFA SHACKLE BAR, TO A HUB HAVING A SIDE CONFIGURATION OF AN ANNULAR BODY,THE SAID HUB BEING